Mastodons Even Record with Sweep of Thunderbirds

Friday, September 24

Fort Wayne, Ind.

7:00 PM

Purdue Fort Wayne

7-7, 3-1Summit

Southern Utah

5-8, 3-2Summit

Southern Utah

IPFW

Maya Schlindwein tied for the match lead with 11 kills in IPFW's sweep of Southern Utah on Friday evening

Mastodons Even Record with Sweep of Thunderbirds

9/24/2010 8:45:53 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

BOX SCORE

Fort Wayne, IN - The IPFW Mastodons evened their 2010 record at 7-7 overall while improving to 3-1 in league play with a 3-0 victory over the Southern Utah University Thunderbirds on Friday night, 25-16, 25-23, 25-20.

The Mastodons won in dominating fashion, trailing just twice the entire match, while not allowing a service ace against the strong Southern Utah squad, which came into the match with a 5-7 record overall, and tied for second in league play with a 3-1 record.

Maya Schlindwein and Stephanie Lamberti each tied for the match-high with 11 kills, while Taryn Parker added eight with four blocks. Tessa McGill had 14 digs to increase her streak to 14 straight matches with double-figure digs. Sophomore setter Megan Steenhuysen dished out 33 assists, as she and Schlindwein each had a service ace.

In the opening set, the Mastodons jumped ahead 4-0 behind a pair of kills from Schlindwein, and one from Jessie Manwaring, giving the hosts a lead they would not give up for the remainder of the set. Twice the Thunderbirds closed the gap to a pair, the last at 16-14 before a 5-0 IPFW streak put the game out of reach, with the 'Dons cruising to the 25-16 victory.

The second set was one of many runs for both teams, with IPFW jumping out first, using kills from Manwaring, Lamberti, and Schlindwein to lead 3-0 out of the gate. Southern Utah fought back, going on a 7-1 run to take their first lead of the match at 6-5. The Mastodon deficit grew to as many as five at 14-9, as it seemed the young Thunderbird program had gained the momentum in the frame.

After a timeout by IPFW head coach Kelley Hartley Hutton, IPFW regrouped and scored nine of the next ten points to lead by three at 18-15. The 'Dons kept the momentum, and led 24-19, serving for set point, before Southern Utah scored three straight to cut the gap to one; however, a Lamberti kill ended the frame with the 'Dons ahead 25-23.

As with the first two sets, IPFW jumped ahead quickly, leading by five at 7-2 before the visitors took advantage of four straight Mastodon attack errors to knot the score at seven. Three straight IPFW points gave the hosts a lead that they would keep for the remainder of the match. The 'Dons lead by six at 24-18, before the Thunderbirds twice staved off elimination at match point, before succumbing to the strong Mastodon squad with a match-ending kill by Schlindwein.

Southern Utah outside hitter Analaine Pelaez led the team with 10 kills, as the sophomore came into the match ranked 28th in the country in kills per set. Brittney Clark had 24 assists, with Caitlin Jensen and Pelaez picking up 12 and 11 digs, each.

The Mastodons return to action on Saturday evening, when the squad hosts the Kangaroos of UMKC in a weekend finale at the Hilliard Gates Sports Center with first serve slated for 7:00 PM.

~Dons~